Receiving anb distributing mail-box



F. K. WlEL. RECEIVING AND DISTRIBUTING MAIL BOX.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 20, 1918.

PatentedJune 24, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

R m w W WITNESS A TTOR NE YS F. K. WIEIL.

RECEIVING AND DISTRIBUTING MAIL BOX. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 20.15MB.

1,307,649 I Patented Ju n'e 24, 1919.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2- WITNESS ATTORNEYS FANNIE K. WIEL, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

RECEIVING AND DISTRIBUTING MAIL-BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented June 24, 1919,

Application filed December 20, 1918. Serial No. 267,574.

To all whom it may concern:

' Be it known that I, FANNIE K. WIEL, a citizen of the United States,'residing at the city and county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Receiving and Distributing Mail-Boxes, of which the follow ing is a specification.

My invention relates to the class of mailboxes and is particularly adapted for local ties where, due to concentration of users. it is desirable to most conveniently unite the operations of depositing, collecting and distributing mail matter.

The object of my invention is to provide a mail-box adapted for the deposit by individuals, and the, periodical'collection by the official, of outgoing mail, and also adapted for the distribution by the postman of incoming mail and its collection by individuals, these functions being distinct but con- 1 centrated in a single structure, capable of h necessary security and easily accomplished,

whereby economy in time and labor is effected.

To this end my invention consists in the novel mail-box which I shall hereinafter fully describe by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of my mailbox showing'it open.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the same, closed.

Fi 3 is a vertical cross section of the mail liox.

Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same.

Fig. 5 is a detail of the door-hinge connection.

Fig. 6 is an elevation, broken, showing a modification of the box.

The box as a whole comprises a lower distributingv section 1 and an upper receiving section 2. The latter section, with re spect to its exterior may be of conventional shape for utility under weather'conditions, and for ornamentation. This section is hinged at 3, as seen in Fig. 4, to the lower section adapting it tov be closed down upon said lower section, and to be swung up therefrom; and said upper section has a floor 4 which gives to it the character of a closed receptacle, saidfloor also formingwhen the upper section is down on the lower section,

a roof,,ceiling or lid for the latter, which is otherwise open on top and is fully exposed from the top whensaid upper section is lifted, as shown in Fig. 1.

At one end of the upper section 2 is a door 5, adapted to be dropped about a hinge 6 to fully expose its interior, as seen in Fig. 1, and thus give complete and convenient access for the withdrawal of the contents by the collector; and this door 5 is controlled by a lock at 7, the key of which is to be in the possession of the oflicial collector. In this end door 5 is the usual flap controlled slot 8 for the insertion of mail by individuals.

The upper section 2 is, as a Whole, adapted to be locked to the lower section, by a suitable fastening, here indicated for illustration by the hasp 9, staple 10 and padlock 11, the key to the latter being in the possession of the distributing postman; or, if the duties of collector and distributer be united in one oflicial, he will carry both keys, thus far mentioned.

The lower section 1 is divided by vertical partitions 12 into any number of individual distributing compartments 13, in one or both sides, and each of these compartments is provided with a separate door 14 controlled by a lock at 15, the key of which is in the possession of the individual to whom the compartment appertains. Each door carries a transparent name plate 16 and a transparent window light 17 which may bear an inscription, such as U. S. Mail. On the front of each door, may be carried a spring clasp 18 adapted to receive a book, magazine, pamphlet or the like, too bulky to b deposited in the compartment.

The use of the mail-box is as follows Individuals deposit their mail, through the slot 8, in the upper section 2. The official collector periodically takes the mail therefrom, by opening the end door 5, which he then closes and locks. The distributing carrier unlocks the hasp 9 and throws up the entire upper section 2 which turns about its hinge 3. This exposes, as seen in Fig. 1, the open tops of the individual compartments 13 and to these. he distributes the mail. Thereupon he closes down again said upper section on the lower section and looks it, thereby shutting in the distributed mail, as seen in 2. Individuals then acquire their mail by opening the doors 14. Or, as hereinbefore intimated, a single official may have the duty of collecting the outgoing mail and distributing incoming mail, by simply carrying the keys pertaining to the dual function of the upper section, namely that of receiving the outgoing mail and of exposing and covering the compartments for the distributed mail.

If it be desired to increase the capacity of the box, with respect to the individual distributing compartments, and still preserve its general conventional appearance, it is best to effect this in the direction of the height of the box, rather than in its other dimensions which might make it too bulky in appearance.

In Fig. 6 I have shown the development of this idea. In this modification, there are two distributing sections such as 1, the second being designated by 1. This latter is hinged at 19 to the top edge, of the lowermost section 1, and the upper or receiving section 2 is hinged at 3 to this'second distributing section 1', and is locked to it, as previously described, and. said second section 1 is locked at 9 to the lowermost distributing section 1.

'The distributing carrier must then swing open the top section 2, to reach the intermediate section 1 and must swing open the intermediate section to reach the lowermost section 1, but in collecting the mail he has only to operate the top section 2 as before.

I claim v 1. A receiving and distributing mail-box comprising a lower section fitted with individual open topped, compartments each provided with an access door; an upper floored section completely overlying and arately locking a slot for its deposit; means for locking" said door; and separate means for looking the upper section to the lower section.

:2. A receiving and distributing mail-box comprising a plurality of distributing sections, each fitted with door controlled open topped and closed bottomed compartments,

one section completely overlying and hinged on top of the other. whereby the open tops of the compartments of the underlying section are covered and exposed by the movement of the overlying section; and a. top section completely overlying and hinged to the uppermost of the distributing sections and adapted by its movement to cover and to expose the compartments thereof, said top section having a door for the collection of mail anda slot for its deposit; means for locking said door; and means for sepsaid sections each to the other successively.

In testimony whereof I have signedmy name to this'specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FANNIE K. WIEL. 

